With the introduction of Windows 11, we could play Android games on Windows! And with more Android apps than ever that offer players a great gaming experience, many now wonder how to play Android games on Windows 11 anyway?
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We’ve broken down the most accessible and straightforward way to play Android games on your Windows laptop, whether it’s the latest generation laptop with an i7 processor and 16 GB RAM or a modest 2-in-1 work laptop.
If you want to boot up Clash of Clans or Raid Shadow Legends, here’s how!
What You Need To Play Android Games on Windows 11
There are two main ways to play Android Games on a Windows 11 operating system, but you must have Windows 11 installed. Your laptop needs additional requirements in addition to being able to run Windows 11 for playing games on Android. Here are the requirements:
- Your device needs at least 8GM of RAM.
- Your Microsoft Store needs to be Version 22110.1402.6.0 or higher.
- Your Windows 11 needs to be on Version 22000.xxx or higher
- Plenty of space on your (solid state drive) SSD storage.
These requirements are necessary to run at least one of the ways to play Android games on Windows 11, using the Windows Subsystem for Android with Amazon Appstore. The other way, using the Google Play Games app, is the official way to play Android games on Windows, but that method is still in beta, and the game selection is more limited. We’ll be covering how you can complete both forms!
You don’t need a data science degree to complete these steps, as we’ve made them simple. Let’s dive right into it!
How to Install Android Games on Windows
Installing Android apps on Windows is easy once you have the right programs downloaded at set up. If you have all the requirements we mentioned beforehand, then you’re all set to follow our simple sets to set up your Windows 11 to be able to download and run Android games.
Playing Android games from Google Play Games.
Before we begin laying down the step-by-step process of using Google Play Games to download Android apps and games, we recommend you double-check that your laptop is running Windows 11, that your computer has an Intel UHD 630 graphics or better, at least four processor cores, and 8 GB or memory or more.
- Start by opening your web browser and searching for Google Play Games.
- You’ll be taken to the Google Play Games (Beta) website. Download the Beta.
- Once downloaded, double-click the file to install the file.
- You’ll be prompted to “Sign in with Google”. Sign in using your preferred Google account.
- Create your profile, and accept the privacy terms and terms of service.
- You’ll be taken to the complete list of games on the Google Play Games (Beta). Before installing any of them, we recommend turning on the “Only show games that run well on this PC”.
- From there, you can choose whichever game you like and install it. It’s as simple as that!
Once you’ve downloaded and played a game, your progress will sync up with any other device with the same account in-game, meaning that you can quickly start again from your phone or tablet.
This process is also available for Windows 10, meaning running Android apps is possible if you still need to update your laptop to Windows 11.
Play Android Games using Windows Subsystem for Android
Another beta channel, Windows Subsystem for Android, allows users to download and install apps from the Amazon Appstore. This stops the need for emulators and other sketchy ways of running Android apps on your laptop.
- Start by opening the Microsoft Store, then downloading and installing the Amazon Appstore.
- You will need to confirm and approve the terms of service.
- You’ll then need to restart your PC to complete the process.
- Once your PC is restarted, you can easily download the games you want from the Amazon Appstore!
It’s as easy as that! Once you’ve set up your Amazon Appstore, installing Android games and applications from then is a piece of cake.
How to Sideload Android Apps on Windows 11
The Amazon Appstore and the Google Play Games Store have too limited a selection of Android apps you can run on Windows. Sideloading allows you to run apps from an APK file, which is an app that isn’t on the official store.
The easiest way to side apps for the Windows Subsystem for Android is by using an app called WSATools. WSATools does all the sideloading for you and lets you download your favourite Android game even when it’s not on the official store. Here’s how you download and use WSATools:
- Navigate to the Microsoft Store. Find the WSATools application within the store and download it.
- Download the relevant APK file. You can purchase an APK file for the game you want to play for Windows PC in many places, but we’ve found that the site APKPure is the most reliable. You can download APKPure’s application, and it was using WSATools.
- Once you’ve run the APKPure application, you can download and install apps using WSATools.
With that, you can now play your favourite mobile game on Windows 11 without hassle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Downloading games this way can be confusing if you have no experience with APKs or using Windows Subsystem for Android, but our guide aims to produce the most consistent results in the most straightforward steps.
If you still have a few questions about how to play Android games on Windows 11, look at our frequently asked questions if you want more insight. Otherwise, we recommend you read through our other articles, including the cheapest laptop for Cricut Explore Air 2 and the best gaming laptop for under $300.
Can you play mobile games on PC Windows 11?
Certain regions allow you to play Android and mobile games on your Windows PC using the methods highlighted in this article. Regarding Android games, the area is currently limited to the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea.
If you are from these countries or currently living and studying within these regions, then playing mobile games on a PC is possible.
How do I run an APK file on Windows 11?
The most straightforward way to run an APK File on Windows 11 PC is to download and install it using WSATools. Once your APK file is downloaded, you can load it through WSATools, and you will be able to play it.
How can I run Android apps on Windows 11 without an emulator?
If you want to run Android apps on Windows 11 without an emulator, the simplest way is through the Microsoft Store App. The store has the Amazon Appstore, which offers users a wide variety of Android apps and games for you to download and play.
Remember that you don’t need to have Windows 11 to use the Amazon Appstore, and you can download this app even if you have Windows 10.
Conclusion
Your laptop with Windows 11 shouldn’t be limited to only playing online or from Steam. If you want to play a specific Android app or your favorite mobile games, reading through our article will help unlock a whole new world of gaming.
If you like our article, consider reading our in-depth review of the Google Pixelbook 12-inch Chromebook and the best 15-inch laptops under $1000.
